Protective cover for automobile underbody



Oct. 18, 1966 o. w. HALUN PROTECTIVE COVER FOR AUTOMOBILE UNDERBODYFiled April 15, 1964 INVENTOR. DANIEL W. HALUN ATTORNEY United StatesPatent 3,279,557 PROTECTIVE COVER FOR AUTOMOBILE UNDERBODY Daniel W.Halun, 4729 E. 143rd St., Cleveland, Ohio Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No.359,964 7 Claims. (Cl. 180-'-69.1)

This invention relates generally to a cover for automobile under bodyand more particularly to a cover for protecting the bottom portion of anautomotive vehicle.

For years now, and particularly in recent years, salt has been used as amedia for melting road ice. The salt causes formation of harmful acidswhich attack the metal surface of the automobile and results inextensive depreciation of automobile values. Such deleterious acids,formed by the coaction with slush, water, or road slag, comepredominantly in contact with the bottom surface of the automobile sheetsteel and the mechanized parts located proximate thereto.

As a result, a rapid deterioration of the sheet metal takes place and,moreover, such undesirable substances destroy the lubricants requiredfor the proper operation of the engine, transmission, and associatedparts.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide adurable protective cover which will eliminate, or at least substantiallyreduce, the deterioration of the entire bottom surface of the vehicle.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a cover which isadapted to be maintained in a resilient but taut condition and whichwill protect the necessary lubricants or moving engine and transmissionparts from slush, water, and road slag.

It is another object of this invention to reduce the effect of enginenoise.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a cover whichcan be readily attached and removed to facilitate servicing of theengine and transmission.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a cover which isadapted to use engine heat to melt ice and snow which may have formedproximate to the fenders, the rocker panels or between the cover and theautomotive vehicle.

An aspect of the present invention resides in the provision of aprotective cover for a vehicle which has a rectangularly shapedunderbody. This cover includes a fiat sheet of material which isjuxtaposed to the underbody of the vehicle; the sheet substantiallycovers the entirety of the vehicle underbody. Attaching members areprovided to fasten the rim or periphery of the cover to the underbody,these members include a plurality of springs, which are suitably spacedalong the rim for resiliently fastening the ends of the fiat sheet ofmaterial to the corresponding ends of the underbody parallel the minoraxis thereof, as well as a plurality of fastening devices, such ashooks, for fixedly attaching the sides of the flat sheet to theunderbody parallel the rim, or outer periphery, of the major axis.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the present invention may behad by referring to the following description and claims, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a bottom plan view of the underside of a typical automotivevehicle employing the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating two remote sectionsof the invention together with typical attachments therefor;

FIGURE 3 is a [plan view of a center section of the protective cover;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view showing a typical cover section andattaching means.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG- URE l a late modelconventional passenger automobile 10. The invention as hereinafterdescribed is adapted to be employed for automobiles of all types ormodels, although various modifications within the ordinary skill ofthose trained in the art may be necessary to adapt the same to theparticular configuration of a given automobile. For purposes ofreference the underbody of the automobile 10 has been defined asextending from front to rear bumper along the major axis of thegenerally rectangular configuration, while the width of the automobileextends along the minor axis thereof.

The invention is embodied in a cover 12 which comprises a generally flatsheet of material, preferably composed of three independent sections12a, 12b, and 120, which are disposed parallel to the aforementionedmajor axis of the underbody. In combination, these sections cover theentirety of the underbody generally coplanar with the configuration ofthe underbody. Similarly, the periphery or rim of the remote sections12a and follows the contour of the underbody, insofar as possible, toform an enclosure around front and rear wheels 14 and 16, respectively.In the case of the front wheels, it is necessary to provide sufiicientspace to avoid interference with the movability of the wheels 14.

The remote portions of the cover, 12a and 12c, and more particularly therim portions thereof along the major axis of the underbody, are securedto the underbody 10 by means of fastening members 19, such as hooks orthe like, which are rigidly attached to the body or frame of theautomobile and secured to an eyelet 20 provide-d at spaced intervalsalong the rim of these sections. It is preferable, that these fasteners19 are spaced at intervals of about 6 to '14 inches to secure the coveralong the rim of the major axis in a nonresilient fashion. The ends ofall three sections of the cover 12, along the outer rim parallel to theminor axis of the automobile, are likewise provided with eyelets 20 tosecure these outer ends resiliently to the bumpers or some other partsof the automobile. Preferably, this is accomplished by using attachingmeans, such as a spring 22, and fastening one end of the spring to theeyelet 20 and securing the opposite end of the spring 22 to either anopening in the automobile or to some receiving means, such as a hook(not shown), suitably secured to the automobile. It is essentialhowever, that the cover 12 be resiliently attached to the ends of theautomobile to absorb the dynamic stresses and shocks which are common tothe operation of an automobile. The type of means used for attachingeither fastening member 19 or spring 22 is not very material andnumerous conventional devices may be satisfactorily used for thispurpose.

In order to enhance the flexibility and provide the necessary stretch tokeep the cover firm and taut, the center section 12b of the cover isdisposed in an overlapping relationship to the two remote sections 12aand 12c. It has been found, that 6 to 10 inches of overlap on each sideis adequate. The remote sections 120! and 12c are resiliently connectedby means of springs 22, as shown in FIGURE 2. The sections 12a and 120are provided with eyelets 20 extending, at spaced intervals, along thecenter rim and the springs are fastened thereto and are arranged in adirection parallel to the minor axis of the automobile disposedtransversely across the center and underneath cover 12b. It will bereadily appreciated that the multiple section cover as above described,facilitates a simple removal of the center section 12b, shown in FIG-URE 3, when it is necessary to service the engine or the transmission ofthe automobile.

The cover 12 is formed of a noncor'rosive material, such as plastic,fiberglass, galvanized steel, aluminum or copper. However, in thepreferred embodiment of this invention, the cover 112 is composed ofaluminum wire mesh approximately 5 to A inches in size and is embeddedin or impregnated by a waterproofing material, as shown in FIGURE 4. Thescreen is coated with a suitable bonding agent, such as cementfor polarrubbers, for bonding the aluminum to a rubber-like material 24 whichsurrounds the aluminum screen. While the aluminum screen may becompletely encapsulated in a rubber mold or matrix, thus obviating theneed for a bond between the aluminum and the rubber matrix, theinvention is also operative when the little screen openings are ,merelyclosed by a waterproofing material. The point to be observed, however,is that as the amount of rubber or like material is reduced,'therequirement for a proper bond between the rubber-like substance and thealuminum is increased.

In some instances it may be desirable to attach some asbestos insulation(not shown) to the cover where the latter comes in contact with any hotpart of the exhaust system. Similarly, it is desirable, in someinstances, to reinforce some sections of the cover where excessive wearoccurs. This can be accomplished with any durable material. Theserequirements will vary, of course, from one automobile model to another.

The rim portions of the remote sections 12a and 120 adjacent to the rearwheels 16 are lined with a strip of bristle board 26 of a plastic orrubberlike material, see FIGURES 1 and 2. The rim sections facing theforward wheels 14 are lined with a resilient rubber-like strip 28.- Bothof these attachments serve to reject and break up the snow and ice whichmay form proximate to the wheels and tires of this automobile.

As has been noted above, the dimensional requirements will-differsomewhat from one automobile model to another. Similarly, in certaincases it may be desirable to provide cutouts within the cover and to letbolts or-other accessories protrude therethrough to avoid excessivewear. A rubber bushing (not shown) may be inserted in the opening forsealing.

While there have been described what at present are considered to be thepreferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention, and is aimed therefore, inthe appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: a

1. A protective cover for a vehicle underbody, com prising:

a flat sheet composed of a wire mesh material impregnated with aflexible waterproof coating juxtaposed to said underbody andsubstantially covering the entirety thereof; 7 V

and attaching means for securing said flat sheet of material to saidunderbody.

2. A protective cover for a vehicle underbody of the type having forwardand rear movable wheels to mount tires, comprising:

a flat. sheet of material juxtaposed to the underbody of said vehiclesubstantially covering the entirety of said underbody, said flat sheetof material being formed substantially complementary to and coplanarwith the configuration of the underbody, including the rim portion ofsaid flat sheet proximate to said movable wheels;

bristle means attached to and extending alongside of said rim portion ofsaid flat sheet adjacent to at least one pair of said movable wheels; 7

and attaching means including a plurality 'of spring members forresiliently fastening the ends of said flat sheet to the ends of saidunderbody along the minor axis thereof and a plurality of fasteningmembers for fixedly attaching the sides of said flat sheet to saidunderbodyalong the major axis thereof.

3.5 A protective cover for a vehicle underbody of the type havingforward and rear movable wheels to mount tires, comprising:

a flat sheet of material juxtaposed to the underbody of said vehiclesubstantially covering the entirety of said underbody, said flat sheetof :material being formed substantially complementary to and coplanarwith the configuration of the underbody, including the rim-portion ofsaid flat sheet proximate to said movable wheels;

bristle means attached to and alongside of said rim portion of said flatsheet adjacent to said movable rear wheels; and a strip of flexiblematerial attached to and extending alongside of said rim portion of saidflat sheet adjacent to said movable forward wheels;

4. .A protective cover for a vehicle underbody, comprising:

a flat sheet composed of a wire mesh material impregnated with aflexible waterproof coating juxtaposed to said underbody andsubstantially covering the entirety thereof, said flat sheet includingthree independent sections disposed parallel to the major axis of saidunderbody, and being formed substantially complementary to and coplanarwith the configuration of the underbody including the rim portion ofsaid fiat sheet proximate to said movable wheels;

attaching means including a plurality of spring members for resilientlyfastening the ends of said flat sheet'to the ends of said underbodyparallelito the minor axis thereof and a plurality of fastening membersfor fixedly attaching the sides of said flat sheet to said underbodyparallelthe major axis thereof;

bristle means attached to and extending alongside of said rim portion ofsaid flat sheet adjacent to said movable rear wheels;

and a strip of flexible material attached to and extending alongside ofsaid rim portion of saidflaLsheet adjacent to said movable forwardwheels. 7

5. A protective cover for a vehicle having a rectangularly shapedunderbody, comprising:

a flat sheet of material juxtaposed to the underbody of said vehiclesubstantially covering the entirety: of said underbody;

said sheet being composed of at least three independent sectionsdisposed parallel. to the major axis of said underbody;

and attaching means including a plurality of spring members forresiliently fastening the ends of said flat sheet to the end of saidunderbody along the minor axis thereof and a plurality of fasteningmembers for fixedly attaching the sides of'said fl-at sheet to saidunderbody along the major axis thereof.

6. A protective cover according to claim 5, wherein said threeindependent sections are composed of two remote sections and one centersection, said center section being in marginally overlappingrelationship to said remote sections.

7. A protective cover according to claim 6, and a plu-. rality of springmembers resiliently fastened to and between said remote sections anddisposed parallel to said minor axis at spaced intervals sufficient tomaintain tautness between said remote section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,163,317 12/1915Brush -69.1 1,630,639 5/1927 Taylor 184106 2,171,813 9/1939 Stockstrom180-69.1 XR, 3,732,024 1/ 1956 Schonwald 180-69.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 497,449 5/ 1930 Germany.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. MILTON L. SMITH, Examiner.

1. A PROTECTIVE COVER FOR A VEHICLE UNDERBODY, COMPRISING: A FLAT SHEETCOMPOSED OF A WIRE MESH MATERIAL IMPREGNATED WITH A FLEXIBLE WATERPROOFCOATING JUXTAPOSED TO SAID UNDERBODY AND SUBSTANTIALLY COVERING THEENTIRETY THEREOF;